It feels like The Pastels have become such a touchstone for the golden era of Glasgow indie, name-checked as an influence by anyone who’s anyone since, that their actual output has been forgotten along the way. And the unassuming band are mostly uninterested in catering to the nostalgia-hungry crowd, with half their set taken from most recent album, Slow Summit, even though it came out 13 years ago. There’s still a shambling, slacker charm to Stephen McRobbie’s unhurried vocals, supported by his meandering intros, but it all comes together with a jangly charm, flute and trumpet adding flavour in measured doses. Only the final moments dip into their iconic ’80s era, with the sprawling rocker ‘Baby Honey’ followed by the tiny scrap of a song, ‘Over My Shoulder.’

Saint Etienne, on the other hand, are very much the opposite. This tour is billed as their final one, something vocalist Sarah Cracknell references more than once so it seems pretty genuine. Therefore it’s unsurprising that they choose to draw from across their 36 years to focus squarely on the hits. ‘Tonight’ sets the disco tone from the off, followed by fan favourites ‘Like a Motorway’ and ‘Spring.’ Cracknell is professional and rarely without a big grin, but it’s backing vocalist Debsey Wykes who often draws the eye with her goth-dance energy and flailing moves (and who can begrudge a bit of melodica). Bob Stanley looks like he stumbled out of his country manor behind the keys, flanked by Pete Wiggs who brings a more mischievous vibe behind his own electronic rig. An additional multi-instrumentalist lurks in the shadows, adding some fantastic violins when called upon (e.g. ‘Mario’s Cafe’).

Peppered amongst the hits are a few songs from last year’s International, but they fit the party atmosphere well. The prior three albums, which saw the band embrace more ambient textures and abstract soundscapes, are notably absent. ‘Heart Failed (In the Back of a Taxi)’ uses some questionable, Kraftwerk-esque CGI and a cover of Paul Gardiner’s ‘A Stormtrooper in Drag’ goes hard on new wave electro. But it’s songs like ‘Pale Movie’ and ‘Mario’s Cafe’ exemplify the band’s ability to pair classic ’60s pop sounds with early ’90s club culture. And then comes the iconic swing-beat melody of their take on ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart,’ the group’s finest hour.

Cracknell dons her customary feather boa for the encore, and ‘Nothing Can Stop Us Now’ provides a brilliant final dance/shout-a-long. But even before this, there was a feeling that both the emotion of the moment and the physicality of the music were taking their toll on the band. It all sounds fine, but there are odd occasions where it seems like they’re going through the motions, weighed down by the occasion and unable to truly enjoy it. However, they stick the landing with ‘The Last Time,’ the final song from their final album; a fitting way to end what is likely their final Scottish show. It’s a touching close, capping a wonderful career on the high note that the band wanted to capture, rather than fading out when their hearts weren’t in it. Not showy or self-aggrandizing, but powerful in their own understated way. Saint Etienne through and through.